New Hampshire’s Political Lineup

Redistricting Deadline

No specific date.

Who’s in Charge of Redistricting?

The legislature, specifically, the House Election Law Committee and Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee. Also, the New Hampshire Constitution places strict limits on redistricting plans; legislative districts must be contiguous and not split towns or city wards. The governor has veto power over both plans.

Districting Principles

Public Access

Public hearings are held in each county and are well advertised in newspapers. Maps are also made available to the public.

Legal Issues

Members of the New Hampshire state legislature challenged that body's method of rounding numbers to ascertain the number of representatives required to represent each multimember district. The State Supreme Court found that the legislature had not violated the state constitution and did not abuse its discretion.

Preclearance is required under the Voting Rights Act in some parts of the state with Native American populations.

Political Landscape

Traditionally a solid Republican state, New Hampshire has become more Democratic recently -- Bob Dole won only 39% of the vote in the 1996 presidential race. All of its federal offices are currently held by Republicans, but both congressional districts are competitive, and either could lean Democratic with an infusion of only slightly more Democratic voters. Statehouse Republicans do not have much room to change the district lines, as a pickup of Republican voters from one district would take them from the other competitive district. Governor Jeanne Shaheen is a Democrat. It is likely, then, that newly drawn districts will not differ much from current districts.